7 Tips + Tools For Organizing Your Life
These 7 Tips + Tools For Organizing Your Life will help you minimize the clutter, reduce your stress, and get you back on track in getting stuff done this year!
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7 Tips + Tools For Organizing Your Life
Is one of your New Year goals to get more organized this year? As someone who is highly organized, I often get asked the question “How do you stay so organized?”, and to be honest it’s something that has been engrained in me since birth. (Thanks Mom!)
But really though, as a busy wife, mother, and working lady I know how difficult it can sometimes be to stay organized and on top of everyday tasks, so today I thought I’d share some of my best tips + helpful tools for getting more organized and ways to be more productive in your daily life!
7 Tips + Tools For Organizing Your Life
Find a Home for Everyday Essentials
First things first, if you find yourself constantly losing your keys, wallet, or other everyday items, it’s time to find a home for them. Trays, jewelry holders, racks, and storage cubes are great for this and I personally love knowing that my items go in the same spot everyday. By establishing a daily routine of where to put what, you’ll never waste another 20 minutes of your life looking for that one lost shoe.
Minimize Extra “Stuff” In Your Space
While you’re organizing your everyday essentials, it’s probably a good idea to go through all that extra clutter that’s lying around everywhere throughout your home. Clutter is actually proven to visually bombard our minds and inadvertently causes feelings of anxiety.
Save yourself unnecessary stress and determine what items really need to be left out in the open. If it’s something you don’t need on a daily basis, then store it away, or if you find yourself not even wanting the item anymore then sell it or donate. Do not keep items just for the sake of it and your brain will thank you.
De-clutter Your Purse/Wallet Weekly
Speaking of clutter, another area that can quickly grow out of hand is your purse and wallet. From receipts, flyers, and trash, to loose makeup items, my bag at times is the epitome of the phrase “everything but the kitchen sink”. To avoid having your purse turn into a black hole, make it a point to empty out and sort through it once a week.
I first throw away any items that are trash, put receipts that need to be saved in our filing cabinet, and return any hair or makeup items to their original home on my vanity. Yes, this task takes 5 minutes out of my day, but those 5 minutes help prevent a lot of unnecessary stress later.
Make a List and Stick to It
Even though I’m naturally a very organized person who thrives on having a neat home and keeping things in an orderly manner, I have my unfortunate struggles with procrastination just like the rest of the world.
In order to combat this, I force myself to make daily lists so that I’ll for sure get stuff done. I recommend making a daily list either every morning or each evening before bed that way you’ll know exactly what you need to tackle in your upcoming day.
Oh and in case you’re curious, you can customize your own cute notepads like mine over here.
Extra Tip for Staying on Track: Once you have your list established try your hardest to stick to just what’s on the list, and avoid getting distracted by other things that may arise throughout the day. Yes, emergencies happen but if it’s something you can tackle the next day or even the next week, focus on the priorities at hand and add those items to your next daily list.
Create a Schedule + Invest in a Great Planner
There’s a reason people create schedules when it comes to cleaning, working out, meal planning etc. – because it works! If you find yourself in an endless cycle of never getting anything done, then I strongly recommend investing in a good planner and start creating schedules for yourself.
I currently have a custom designed Blossom Life Planner from Erin Condren and I absolutely love it!
Before I was always wasting money every year buying small, cheap planners until I finally realized that the reason I didn’t love them was because of the horrible setup and lack of space.
With the Life Planner, I’m able to plan out and organize both my daily and monthly schedule and running out of space is never an issue.
From planning and organizing blog posts to planning out everyday tasks and to-do’s, this planner lets me plan out the entire month ahead and keeps me on track for getting things done each day.
Not to mention, it’s absolutely gorgeous and I’m obsessed with the inspirational quotes included at the beginning of each month.
Check out some of my favorite styles below and save $10 off your first order over here with the code: WELCOME10
Stop Procrastinating
This is something that most people don’t want to hear, but my best advice for those looking to be more organized is to stop procrastinating simple, everyday tasks. How many times have you left the dirty dishes in the sink because “There wasn’t enough to worry with” or didn’t take the trash out because “It was too cold outside”?
These are little tricks that your mind plays on you in thinking that a task is too hard, too insignificant, or not worthy of your attention in that moment, but it’s a bad habit worth breaking right now.
It’s a proven fact that the longer you put something off the less likely you are to ever do it, so while you know you need to do something, DO IT.
When we procrastinate, we end up overwhelming ourselves later by rushing or spending much longer doing tasks that would have only taken a few minutes if we had just did them right then and there. Do yourself a favor and start making better habits of doing things right now.
Delegate Tasks & Ask For Help
Last but not least, part of being more organized is understanding that sometimes you simply can’t do it all by yourself. Learning to delegate tasks out to others and asking for help when needed is crucial in staying on track with your goals and will help reduce stress.
As a struggling perfectionist, this is something I have a hard time with, but I’m slowly learning to accept help when given and I’m also learning to not be so hard on myself in thinking I have to be the one doing everything. Remember, asking for help is a good thing!
*Thank you to Erin Condren for partnering with me on this post! As always, opinions are 100% my own.
I hope you found today’s post on 7 Tips + Tools For Organizing Your Life helpful! What area of your life do you struggle the most with staying organized? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for stopping by!- Cara
P.S. Don’t forget to use the code WELCOME10 over here to save $10 off your first online purchase from Erin Condren. It’s a great time to start planning for the year ahead! 🙂
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This is a really cute journal. My color! Yeah, I need to stick to my list more. Thanks for these tips.
Thank-you! I loved the customization options! 🙂
I love this! I am such a huge basket collector haha everything in our home belongs in some sort of basket. My husband says it’s obsessive haha
I think that’s awesome! lol I’d much rather see 14 baskets in an organized manner than a bunch of clutter lying around the house.
I am BIG on lists- it definitely helps me stay on task and plan my week and break it down to daily items. I have been clearing out clutter a LOT lately- and just did my nightstand yesterday. Who knew how many things could add up?! Great tips girl!
That’s awesome! Last spring I focused on one area a day with decluttering and it was absolutely amazing how much stuff I ended up purging that I didn’t even need. It’s so easy to quickly accumulate items in the home. So glad to hear the de-cluttering process is going well for you! 🙂
I love decluttering and minimizing the extra! Great tips!!
Thanks! I’ve had to learn that clutter is normal when you have a family, but there are definitely ways to minimize it!
These are such great tips! I have to find an organizer for our everyday things. Our counter tends to be a dumping ground and I am so tired of it. Sierra~Beautifully Candid
Thanks! My husband is the world’s worst for bringing everything home and putting it on the counter, but I’ve started making him sort it out that way it can quickly find a home lol.
Cleaning out my purse on the reg is a newer habit I’m trying to take up, and it makes SUCH a difference!!
I agree! I’ve downsized in the size of purses I have and thats been helping minimize clutter as well!
The first thing I did, in my new place, was to find a home for keys etc.In my old place it was a drawer in a dresser but that wouldn’t work in the new place. Even a bowl on a counter is good so long as you drop the keys in there every time.
Great tip! It amazes me how many people constantly lose their keys. It’s such a simple fix! lol
I couldn’t live without my Erin condren planner.
Yours is so pretty
I’m so glad to hear that! I’m literally in love with it! 🙂
Lists and planners are my favorite ever for staying organized and sane in my everyday life haha! Without them, I’d be completely lost. Cleaning out my handbag & wallet are also a weekly thing for me. I hate when my bag gets full of receipts and random things I don’t need anymore. Love all of your tips!
Thanks Kristen! I can’t stand a cluttered purse either- it bogs me down when I know my desk or purse is cluttered. (Type A problems over here haha)
I use the LifePlanner too and I love it! You are so right about sticking to the list!
That’s awesome! Sticking to lists is a must in my house lol.
I’ve always wanted to try the Life Planner, but couldn’t bring myself to spend the money. I had no idea of the monthly version that’s more affordable and probably a better fit for how I like to plan! These all are great tips, lady!
Yes, the EC monthly planners are a great deal- especially if you use the $10 off discount. I’m really happy with my planner and it makes things a lot easier and holds me more accountable. 🙂
I love the EC planners because there is so much room for lists and notes! These are all awesome tips and so true. Clutter makes me crazy so I always find myself organizing various drawers or my purse to maximize space and efficiency
I agree! I’m so blown away with how much room there is in them for planning and writing things down. 🙂
I’m trying to get my whole house organized right now and I just keep finding more stuff! I bought a variety of acrylic organizers from Amazon and am going to town purging everything I don’t use. I’m hoping I can keep it up throughout the year!
That’s awesome, Michelle! I think organizers really help with determining items you actually use vs. items you’re simply keeping for various reasons. Sometimes we hold onto things for such silly reasons and it’s okay to let go. (speaking from personal experience)
These are some great tips! I most def need to start cleaning out my bag weekly as it does get out of control! Also I have been such a procrastinator about cleaning out closets and such. I did it a little over my holiday breaks but not as much as it needs to be done. I REALLY need to part with more things. I have just way too many shoes clothes makeup bags etc and I can’t possibly wear or use them all. My thought process is “once I have kids I won’t have the money to buy them so I need to save what I have for when that time comes”. I know it’s not the best excuse but I just think my spending on personal items isn’t going to be anywhere near what it is now. Regardless, I think I need to get rid of things I haven’t worn in years.
Thanks! And oh girl I used to be the same way (Before I had kids) but honestly… and which everybody might be different, I found myself never wanting to go back and use stuff from years ago, even if it was in great condition. I feel like my style constantly evolves, so for me it made more sense to part ways with items I no longer needed or used. Best of luck with it- I know it can be difficult to declutter!
I’m always amazed at all the places I find to stick receipts in my purse and wallet. Even when I’m carrying a TINY purse, I find them in the most ridiculous places, lol. I’m also the worst at doing my expense reports… so it makes sense… but I need to be better about both. 😉
Haha, I know what you mean! I’ve been forcing myself to go through receipts and things in the car lately and then throwing them away as soon as I get through the door. That’s been a huge help!
These are great tips! I LOVE my Erin Condren Life Planner. It’s one of my goals to get my life organized this year so I’m definitely going to be using this.
Thanks Helen! Having a great planner is the perfect foundation for getting more organized, I think. For me writing things down holds me more accountable. Good luck with all your goals this year!
I love those Erin Condren planners! I’m working on being more minimalistic this year also!! Great post!
Aren’t they so pretty?! I feel like they have one for every lifestyle too! 🙂
Love this post, Cara! I definitely agree that everything needs to have a home. It just keeps things tidy and simpler to put away things each day. A cleaned out purse is another thing I am obsessed with because they can accumulate weight quickly and that is not good for your shoulders. Procrastination is something I still struggle with at times, but it is much better now compared to a year ago. Learning the art of delegation is something on my priority list. Learning to let go of control a bit has helped my mental health and given me back so much time.
Thanks! I can totally relate with carrying around weight on my shoulder. I used to carry only massive bags and they would accumulate so much stuff in them they would literally trigger the passenger seat belt alarm when I’d set it in the car beside me lol. I now carry a cross body purse and it’s so freeing because a. I don’t kill my shoulder and b. less space to put things = less clutter. Sometimes we literally have to force our mind to stay organized, but it’s worth it in my opinion.
My car does the same! haha! Downsizing your handbag is a smart move, even if you feel like you are forcing your mind to be organized. Overtime, it won’t feel that way, and you will wonder why you ever needed a large handbag in the first place!
Totally! It’s been a great decision all around! 🙂
Oooh your EC planner and notepad are gorgeous. Great tips!
Thank-you! I love that you can customize it just the way you want it! 🙂
i LOVE my planner and it’s a must for me to keep my week/month organized!
I completely agree! I’m just glad I finally found one that worked for the way I wanted things set up. Glad you love yours too! 🙂
oh my gosh this is perfect and something i always strive to do for the year ( and life ha ) great photos and LOVE the planner! Its a fav of mine too! Happy Monday!
Thanks Cait! It makes life a whole lot easier when we’re organized, right?! Happy Wednesday!